Archive for December 2013 (3 posts)

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The following is a guest post by Rebeca Newland, the Teacher in Residence at the Library of Congress for 2013-14.

Library of Congress 2013-2014 Teacher-In-Residence Rebecca Newland

Most students leave high school having studied Shakespeare, the howls of Beowulf and Grendel in battle, and a smattering of American poets. Beyond the study of canonical poems and poets, how can we foster a love for poetry in our children?

The school librarian can play a crucial role. The American Association of School Librarians, in its Standards for the 21st Century Learner (2007), calls for librarians to guide students to “respond to literature and creative expressions of ideas in various formats and genres” (4.1.3) and “show an appreciation for literature by electing to read for pleasure and expressing an interest in various literary genres” (4.2.4).

Here are some ideas:

Instead of a storybook for our youngest students, why not read a series of poems? They can respond verbally or with drawings.

Older elementary and middle school students can write a poem using small magnet boards with magnetic poetry sets. Leave the poems around the library for others to read, or take digital pictures to preserve the glorious use of words. Use the pictures to create a bulletin board for National Poetry Month.

Greet students as they come into the building with a band of roving troubadours (the drama teacher will probably have a list of kids who would love a performance opportunity).

Use Poem Pops (reading a short catchy poem) once a week in the morning announcements. Students can visit the library later to pick up a copy of the poem and find out more about its author.

Because the library is an essential gathering place in the school, why not host a Poetry Café? Ask students to come to the library for a special event during lunchtime. Provide hot chocolate and tea and maybe even cookies. Allow students to bring a bagged lunch. Then set your tables with battery powered electric candles, dim the lights, and get out your beret. Ask students to read a favorite poem or one they have written. Provide a few ear catching poems, including those by United States Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey, for students who want to participate but need help finding something to read. Engage students in conversation about the beauty and power of words in the form of poetry. Spend time celebrating poetry in a setting that encourages expression and fun. Some of your most enthusiastic readers might want to form a Poetry Out Loud team.

The library is a venue where we can surround our kids with opportunities to read, hear, and fall in love with poetry.

The following is a guest post by William Thompson, administrative specialist for the Library of Congress American Folklife Center. My name is Brock Thompson, and this fall I’ve started working as the program coordinator for the Poetry and Literature Center. A native of Toad Suck, Arkansas, and an historian by trade, I am so delighted […]

The following is a guest post by Jason Michael David Steinhauer, program specialist in the Library of Congress Office of Scholarly Programs. The John W. Kluge Center welcomes promising young scholars from the United Kingdom to conduct research at the Library of Congress. The scholars—all currently pursuing doctorate degrees—are funded by the Arts and Humanities […]

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